Monroe Mountain lakes

Manning Meadow Reservoir has traditionally been managed with cutthroat trout. In 1988, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources purchased all water rights to the reservoir and became responsible for the dam. Plans were developed to not only use this reservoir for fishing recreation but to help conserve and expand native Bonneville cutthroat trout. The reservoir was drained and treated with rotenone to remove all nonnative cutthroat trout and redside shiners in 1989. In 1990, just over 700 Bonneville cutthroat trout native to southern Utah were transplanted from local streams into the reservoir. Also, a one-time stocking of brook trout was made to help maintain fishing recreation while cutthroat numbers were low. Brook trout were gradually depleted as cutthroat numbers increased. Wild cutthroat trout are trapped each spring as they attempt to spawn. Fertilized eggs are taken to state fish hatcheries. Wild brood stock lakes, such as Manning Meadow, greatly expand hatchery production capabilities. The first spawning of native cutthroat trout at Manning Meadow took place in 1992 and has continued each year since. Over 200,000 eggs are commonly taken per year which results in over 100,000 trout being stocked annually in numerous locations throughout central and southern Utah. Catch and release rules apply at Manning Meadow to ensure an adequate supply of older female trout that produce abundant numbers of eggs. Fishing with flies and lures at Manning Meadow can be excellent with cutthroat ranging up to about 20 inches.

Water rights to Barney Reservoir were purchased at the same time as Manning Meadow. Barney Reservoir is the highest elevation water on Monroe Mountain at 10,044 feet. This 18-acre fishing reservoir was constructed in 1990 by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. It is stocked with Bonneville cutthroat trout and tiger trout. Restrictive fishing regulations allow fishing with flies and lures only, but a two-trout limit enables some fish to be kept. General state-wide fishing rules apply to the remaining lakes and reservoirs on Monroe Mountain.

The two Box Creek reservoirs are the lowest elevation waters on the mountain at 8,800 feet, each covering about 50 surface acres at full storage. These waters do not have conservation pools and are sometimes drained. They are stocked each year with catchable-size rainbow trout and brook trout fingerlings.

Manning, Barney, and the Box Creek reservoirs are most easily accessed from the towns of Koosharem and Greenwich. Other roads can be taken from near the towns of Monroe and Marysvale, but these routes are longer and have steep grades and switchbacks.

Big Lake, Deep Lake, and Annabella Reservoir are accessible from the town of Glenwood. These popular lakes are 10 to 35 acres large and at an elevation of about 9,800 feet. They are stocked with catchable-size rainbow trout each year. They usually winter kill, but are noted for having plentiful food supplies which produce fast trout growth. Even though trout spend only one summer in the lakes, they grow to over a pound by fall and offer excellent late season fishing success.

Latest fishing report

Access is good to the Box Creek reservoirs, and rainbow trout have been stocked. The north-end lakes should be stocked soon. Manning Meadow Reservoir is closed to fishing until July 14. (Last update 05-17-18)

Details

Location: Sevier and Piute counties

Directions: Gravel road east from SR 62 near Koosharem or Greenwich, or gravel roads from Glenwood, Monroe and near Marysvale